Despite scientific and technological advances, a significant number of people diagnosed with cancer will experience a transition to the palliative phase of the disease that is described as one of the most difficult phases in the cancer trajectory (Marsella, 2009). Indeed, the disease progression is linked to a deterioration of physical and psychological symptoms (Delgado-Guay et al., 2009; Peters & Sellick, 2006) as well as changes in family functioning (Blum & Sherman, 2010; Girgis et al., 2012). This period is also associated with the loss of hope of healing that consequently leads to feelings of suffering, fear and anguish for the patients as well as their families (Coelho et al., 2016; LeSeure & Chongkham-Ang, 2015). During this difficult time, families yearn for the opportunity to voice their feelings all while being supported (Blindheim et al., 2013; Coelho et al., 2016; Wijk & Grimby, 2008; Yoo et al., 2008) by health care professionals who adopt a humanistic and holistic approach (Blum & Sherman, 2010; Johnston & Smith, 2006; Sampson et al., 2014; Schmidt, 2003). That being said, many studies show that therapeutic conversations have yielded many positive outcomes for patients and families (Benzein et al., 2015; Benzein, Hagberg, et al., 2008; Benzein & Saveman, 2008b; Duhamel & Talbot, 2004; Persson & Benzein, 2014)
This paper summarizes the work done during a yearlong internship that aimed at conducting therapeutic conversations with patients diagnosed with cancer in palliative care and their families. During the internship, the student nurse adopted a family centered approach that was conceptualized and operationalized by the Calgary Family Assessment Model (Wright & Leahey, 2014) as well as by the Illness Beliefs Model (Wright & Bell, 2009). Three families were met bi-monthly over a period of two months. The intervention not only allowed the nurse to gain a better understanding of the patients and families experiences but also highlighted the core beliefs that influenced their behaviours. In addition, the therapeutic conversations also promoted more open and direct communication amongst the family members all while promoting their well being and decreasing suffering.
Keywords: Cancer, palliative care, therapeutic conversations, family-centered nursing.